294 / 374
294
DRINKS.
addition
to
our
pharmacopoeia.
Johnston.,
in
The
Chemistry
of
Common
Life}
speaking
of
the
general
effects
of
the
Coca
leaf,
says
that
it
"acts
differently
according
to
the
way
in
which
it
is
used.
When
in-
fused,
and
drunk
like
tea,
it
produces
a
gentle
excite-
ment,
followed
by
wakefulness
;
and,
if
taken
strong,
retards
the
approach
of
hunger,
prevents
the
usual
breathlessness
in
climbing
hills,
and,
in
large
doses,
dilates
the
pupil,
and
renders
the
eye
intolerant
of
light. It
is
seldom
used
in
this
way,
however,
but
is
commonly
chewed
in
the
form
of
a
ball
or
quid,
which
is
turned
over
and
over
in
the
mouth,
as
is
done
with
tobacco.
In
this
way
its
action
is
more
gradual
and
prolonged
than
when
the
infusion
only
is
taken.
It
is
also
very
different
in
its
character,
because
the
constant
chewing,
the
continued
action
of
the
saliva,
and
the
influence
of
the
lime
or
ashes
chewed
along
with
it,
extract
from
the
leaf
certain
other
active
constituents
which
water
alone
does
not
dissolve,
when
it
is
in-
fused
after
the
manner
of
tea."
It
contains
at
least
three
different
constituents
;
an
odoriferous
substance,
a
bitter
principle,
and
a
kind
of
tannic
acid.
When
Cuca
is
imported
into
this
country
the
leaves
are
coated
with
a
resinous
substance,
like
hops
have,
slightly
soluble
in
water,
but
wholly
in
ether
—
which,
on
evaporation,
leaves
a
brownish
resin,
which
is
powerfully
odorous.
This
scent
vanishes
if
it
is
exposed
to
the
air
for
any
length
of
time,
and
thus
is
lost
one
of
the
most
important
ingredients
of
good
Cuca
—
rendering
the
leaf
useless
by
keeping.
1
Ed.
1879,
p.
363.